How to apply for Director, Growth & External Relations

About trubel&co

trubel&co is a tech-justice nonprofit that bridges data skills and civic action, empowering youth and communities to tackle inequity through liberatory innovation. Unlike traditional STEM education orgs, they center abolitionist frameworks and local data to drive socio-environmental advocacy. Working here means joining a movement to democratize access to data, design, and tech for those closest to the problems.

About the role

As Director of Growth & External Relations, you will lead trubel&co's expansion strategy, building partnerships and funding streams to scale their data civics programs. You'll be the external face of the organization, cultivating relationships with funders, school districts, and community orgs while ensuring growth aligns with liberatory principles. This role is pivotal in amplifying their impact and sustaining their mission.

A typical day

A typical day might involve meeting with a potential funder to pitch a new data civics initiative, then collaborating with the program team to align growth plans with community needs. You could also spend time drafting a partnership proposal, analyzing donor data, or representing trubel&co at a virtual convening on tech justice. Expect a mix of external outreach and internal strategy, all grounded in their mission.

Who trubel&co is looking for

• Proven track record in nonprofit growth, fundraising, or partnership development, ideally in tech-justice, education, or youth-focused organizations.
• Deep commitment to social justice, with experience applying abolitionist or liberatory frameworks in strategy and external communications.
• Strong storytelling and communication skills to translate complex data and tech concepts for diverse stakeholders, from funders to community members.
• Strategic thinker who can balance scaling with community-driven values, and comfortable working remotely in a collaborative, mission-driven team.

Tips for this application

• Highlight specific examples of how you've grown a nonprofit or mission-driven initiative, including metrics (e.g., funds raised, partners secured, programs scaled).
• Demonstrate familiarity with trubel&co's three pillars (Learn, Build, Advocate) by referencing their programs or impact in your application.
• Use language that reflects their values: 'liberatory design,' 'data civics,' 'abolitionist frameworks'—show you understand their approach, not just generic nonprofit growth.
• Share a story of how you've centered community voice in growth strategies, as trubel&co prioritizes those closest to inequity.
• Connect your personal or professional experience to their mission—they value lived experience and authentic commitment to justice.

What to cover in your cover letter

['Your specific experience in scaling a nonprofit or social impact org, with quantifiable results and lessons learned.', "How you align with trubel&co's tech-justice mission and can authentically represent their brand to external partners.", 'Your approach to building partnerships that are reciprocal and community-centered, not extractive.', "A concrete idea for how you'd approach growth for trubel&co, showing you've done your homework on their model and gaps."]

Research before applying

• Explore trubel&co's website, especially their programs under Learn, Build, and Advocate, to understand their impact model.
• Read their blog, reports, or any publications on data civics and liberatory design to grasp their pedagogical and political approach.
• Research their founders and team, and look for interviews or talks they've given to understand their vision and language.
• Look into similar orgs in the tech-justice space to see how trubel&co differentiates and where partnership opportunities might lie.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How would you develop a growth strategy that stays true to trubel&co's liberatory and abolitionist principles?
• Describe a time you secured a major partnership or funding. What was your approach and what challenges did you face?
• How do you measure success in external relations beyond dollars raised? What metrics matter to you?
• How would you engage youth and community members in decision-making processes for growth initiatives?
• What's your understanding of the tech-justice landscape, and how does trubel&co fit into it?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Using generic nonprofit growth language without connecting to trubel&co's specific mission and values.
• Focusing only on fundraising metrics and ignoring the community-driven, liberatory aspect of their work.
• Failing to demonstrate understanding of their tech-justice niche or the importance of data democratization.